Sleeping on the ground for a night, with only anahaw leaves, sacks and cardboard as a makeshift mattress, is already enough a sacrifice for a 53-year-old woman. But Rosita Ombao did it for 19 nights, all for her desire to make a difference in their community.

Rosita, a farmer and vendor in Brgy Pisipis, Lopez, Quezon Province, has endured 19 straight days and nights fulfilling her voluntary duty. She was part of the Barangay Subproject Management Committee (BSPMC) for the farm-to-market road project implemented in 2013 under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan—Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS).  She was designated as the bodegera (storekeeper).

As the bodegera, her main task was to secure all the materials for the project. Lodged in a small tent near the site of their project, the materials can easily be stolen, especially at night. Among these materials are bags of cement, iron bars, sands, gravel and some construction tools.

True to her duty, Rosita chose to guard them even if it means being away from the comforts of her own bed and the warmth of her family.

Selfless ideals

“Kahit mahirap para sa akin kasi may mga anak rin akong nag-aaral na kailangang bantayan pero ginawa ko pa rin. Nagsakripisyo ako kasi gusto kong mapaayos ang aming kalsada,” Rosita shared.

She added that her desire to do so is her means of contributing to the change in their community.

“Kapag maayos ang kalsada, malaki ang matitipid ng mga tao dito sa pagbaba ng mga produkto sa bayan. Kung lagi na lang kaming magbabayad ng kabayo para sa pagbaba ng aming produkto, wala nang pagbabagong mangyayari sa buhay ng mga tao. Lagi na lang magiging kulang ang kikitain ng bawat pamilya,” she added.

Looking at the constructed farm-to-market road today, Rosita has no regrets.

“Napakalaking tulong sa amin ang kalsada. Kung noon bumabayad kami ng Php150 sa kabayo para sa dalawang sakong produkto, ngayon ay Php20 na lang kada sako ang binabayaran namin sa tricycle,” she shared.

Further, it is easier for residents to travel to the town proper to run errands. She shared that before, they have to pass another town to go to their town proper.

Getting her share

Rosita also acknowledged how the new road changed their lives, especially that of her two younger children.

“Malaking tipid po sa amin ang pagkakaroon ng maayos na kalsada. Nakakadagdag na po sa budget ng mga bata sa pag-aaral ang natitipid namin,” she shared.

Rosita’s two children are beneficiaries of another program of the DSWD—the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. According to Rosita, most of their expenses in school are already be covered by the cash grants they receive. However, being able to save more from their income makes their lives more comfortable as compared before.

“Dati malaking isipin ko pa ang pang-araw araw namin katulad ng pagkain at minsan ang baon ng mga bata. Pero ngayon, mas maayos na, mas nakakaluwag na,” she added.

Evident in Rosita is her pride that she has been a part of change, not just of her family’s but also of the whole community’s future. For her, each night of sacrifice is all worth it. After all, her sacrifice is just 19 sleepless nights compared to the hundreds of lives she helped to change in their community.***